Stefon Diggs
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The New England Patriots tried really hard to get an elite wide receiver in free agency 1 year ago. When that pursuit came up short, they turned to a wide receiver past his prime in Stefon Diggs, who was coming off an ACL injury, and paid him big money with a 3-year, $65 million contract.
The Patriots got all they could ask for from Diggs, who ended up being their go-to wide receiver on a surprise run to the Super Bowl and racked up 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Fortunately for the Patriots, Diggs’ contract included a somewhat easy out after 1 season, and he’ll be released when the league year kicks off next week so the Patriots can take another shot at a big-time wide receiver … and 1 with a little less baggage.
That’s going to make Diggs an attractive player on the free-agent market, with Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton calling the Baltimore Ravens the No. 1 best landing spot for him in free agency.
Wherever Diggs ends up, it’ll be his 4th team in 4 seasons after spending 2023 with the Buffalo Bills and 2024 with the Houston Texans.
Stefon Diggs Grew Up Close to Baltimore Area
One thing that might draw Diggs to the Ravens — along with his love for 2-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson — is that it would represent a homecoming of sorts.
The Ravens also need a legit WR2 option to Zay Flowers to complete their offense, where they already have an elite tight end in Mark Andrews and 1 of the NFL’s greatest running backs of all time in Derrick Henry.
“As a possession receiver, Diggs can complement Flowers, whose speed opens up the field for other wideouts on short-to-intermediate routes,” Moton wrote. “Still a reliable pass-catching threat, he can feast on receptions over the middle and in the seams. Furthermore, with the Ravens set to install a new offense under first-time play-caller Declan Doyle, Lamar Jackson needs another safety valve in the passing attack, other than tight end Mark Andrews. Diggs grew up in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and played for the Terrapins in college. So, this could be a full-circle homecoming for him in the twilight of his career. “
The problem with Diggs throughout his career hasn’t been his talent. It’s been everything that came with it.
Myriad Legal Issues on Horizon for Stefon Diggs
If teams can get past the off-field issues for Diggs that scuttled him off the Bills — a longstanding beef with quarterback Josh Allen — and his tabloid headline relationship with pop star Cardi B, there are still much more serious issues lingering. Issues of the legal variety.
On December 22, Diggs was arrested for assault and battery after he was accused of strangling his personal chef earlier that month, after she asked to be paid for her work.
Diggs has entered a plea of not guilty and denied all allegations. He’s scheduled to return to court on April 1.
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Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame